A.R. Kane
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A.R. Kane – Lollita
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Biography
After 2 singles on different labels and a surprise number one hit as part of M/A/R/R/S’s “Pump Up the Volume”, they made two ground-breaking albums that placed them precariously in the indie scene - however they preferred the term “dream pop”. These albums were 69 in 1988 and i in 1989.
Hard to place in terms of genre, 69 was more consciously indie, though that’s not saying much, seen by some as part of a continuum that included jimi hendrix’ more spaced-out offerings, miles davis and others - musically it asked questions and opened doors that have still to be explored. ‘i’ was a dramatic change, clearly slicker and smoother, and covering a wide variety of styles over twenty-six tracks (ten of which were short noise interludes). “i” also spawned A.R. Kane’s best-known song in “A Love From Outer Space”. Both albums achieved wide critical acclaim.
Follow up album New Clear Child (1994), was not received as well, the reasons being a believed lack of coherent direction and a feeling that the ideas were merely (admittedly excellent) re hashes of works that were completed more succinctly in the earlier 2 albums.
Rudy Tambala made ambient and dub influenced music under the name Sufi. Neither is currently involved in the music industry to any great extent. Post-A.R. Kane, Alex Ayuli was (possibly still is) a museum curator in the U.
Top Albums
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"i"
7,501 listeners26 tracks
Released:
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69
5,053 listeners10 tracks
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Sixty Nine
1,608 listeners10 tracks
Released:
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I
1,688 listeners26 tracks
Released:
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blackswano
Damn such a wonderful act, the real hidden bridge between The Jesus and Mary Chain and more canonical shoegaze. Plus, the "Lollita" EP is one of the most touching sequences ever.
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NarooN
Well they arguably created dreampop (or coined the name of it), and their music inspired later shoegaze artists... But I wouldn't label them as a sg band, no.
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shotiko
worst thing to be labeled as shoegaze, indie
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spacemangraig
singles collection is ridiculously good! it's the only CD I know that combines noise pop with dub and disco, and still makes sense.
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NarooN
Obscure? Somewhat. They were pretty well-known in their heyday, and have a devoted following nowadays.
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jakobdorof
"haunting" is one of those immediate "this is one of the best songs ever" feels
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jakobdorof
are they really as obscure as they seem? this singles collection is blowing my mind
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carl2020
Lead singers voice kind of sounds like Sting on the album "69", the first few tracks especially like "Suicide Kiss" around 2:20 mark and crazyblue sounds a lot like sting (vocals) wonder if he was slightly inspired by their sound.
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mindgarden
I have uploaded two excellent pics here: http://www.last.fm/music/A.R.+Kane/+images/84642849 http://www.last.fm/music/A.R.+Kane/+images/84642859 ....Vote them up if you will be so kind, fine people.
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menyauthe
Was just listening to the Singles Comp, and had one of those humbling moments when I got to the Up Home! portion where I had forgotten how beautiful music can be and was totally floored with amazement. That's why I love this band.
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menyauthe
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NarooN
I recall that interview, it's just as trippy as the music itself.
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menyauthe
The Quietus interviewed A.R. Kane, and I daresay it's rather amusing. Rudy Tambala is such a funny guy.
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NarooN
Yeah, and similar to back in the day, even now they're still getting a few detractors... But fuck all those guys (and gals). Who needs 'em anyway?! Those with actual good ears will be thankful for the Kane.
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eyesaresmiles
Don Letts playing sumat on the midnight shift on radio 6 later. Nemone played When You're Sad as part of a 4AD thing earlier. Good to see them getting some real exposure with the comp coming out.
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menyauthe
I really wish the "they were black" thing wasn't as true a reason they didn't succeed as it probably was back then.
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RussellChap
MBV are still popular because unlike A.R. Kane they're white, have a female front woman, had a standard indie sound - admittedly under gorgeous waves of noise - and line up also they were just easier to sell to the indie scene additionally they were much easier to replicate.
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NarooN
Yeah, you're right on that front. A.R. Kane did fade back into obscurity in a similar fashion to those that they trained, such as Papa Sprain and Butterfly Child. Such a shame indeed, who knows how it would've turned out had A.R. Kane stayed up there...
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eyesaresmiles
Not sure I agree with you that 'many' people held them in high regard, NarooN. They had quite a bit of great press around the time of Lollita and 69, but mostly from one very small pool of journalists. And while they did have indie 'hits, they didn't sell much and disappeared out of those charts very quickly. That in itself is understandable - their earlier stuff is comparatively 'difficult' and 'I' barely even fitted within the confines of 'indie' at all. But after 'I', having created two classic albums and a host of glorious EPs in the space of a couple of years, A.R.Kane's name almost completely disappeared into the mists, while MBV, in much the same situation musically, became a kind of indie gold standard, the grade against which others were judged . And thats been pretty much the case these last 20 odd years. I've no axe to grind with MBV - they were exceptional - but A.R. Kane were absolutely their equals and the difference in their standings is colossal.
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XMD5a8000
"Lollita" and "Sado-masochism is a Must" are mindblowing.
All 139 shouts
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